The governments of Canada and Manitoba are providing $2.025 million in financial support to the Enterprise Machine Intelligence and Learning Initiative (EMILI) for Advancing Digital Agriculture Opportunities under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay announced Thursday (July 25) at the grand opening of the Innovation Farms Centre.
“Manitoba farmers and producers are a critical part of our province’s economy, and our government is supporting them to feed Manitobans and feed the world,” said Kinew. “EMILI’s work to help drive innovation in Manitoba agriculture is going to help producers lower costs, increase yields and improve sustainability. This is a win for our province’s economy and the environment.”
The funding builds on the launch of EMILI’s Innovation Farms Project, a 5,500-acre full-scale farming operation used to demonstrate and promote new processes and technologies. As a part of the innovation farms project, the 8,500-sq.-ft. Innovation Farms Centre officially opened today.
“Farmers are constantly doing their best to adapt to the unique challenges they face, while working hard to feed Canadians and the world,” said MacAulay. “With support under Sustainable CAP, this program will help farmers in Manitoba adopt more digital technologies so they can gain valuable insights into their operations, improve their efficiency, and stay on the cutting edge.”
Innovation Farms Centre is where EMILI and its partners will be able to analyze farm data, test technology solutions and host educational events year-round. The space includes a workshop space, meeting rooms, offices and control centre where data from over 50 sensors will be displayed.
EMILI is an industry-led non-profit that was created in 2016 with the objective of preparing and empowering Manitoba farmers to leverage digital disruption for success with a specific focus on digital agriculture. EMILI also demonstrates new skills and technologies required by the industry to attract more people to agriculture and address skills gaps in the labor force.
“Digital technology is transforming agriculture and food production, and we want to support Manitoba producers to innovate, adopt new technologies, and grow their businesses,” said Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn. “EMILI will play a key role in helping Manitoba agriculture be on the cutting edge, grow the sector, and create more good jobs.”
The vision for EMILI’s innovation farms project is to be a place of collaboration and demonstration, for both experts and the general public, including students and others in the industry.
“EMILI is grateful to the governments of Canada and Manitoba for their investment in innovation farms and their vision for growing Manitoba’s agtech industry because we know that technological advancement leads to new and expanded businesses, new well-paying jobs, and the preservation of existing jobs,” said Jacqueline Keena, managing director, Enterprise Machine Intelligence and Learning Initiative. “This funding increases our ability to provide farmers, industry, students, and researchers with exposure and access to cutting edge equipment and emerging technologies in a commercial setting, which will drive sustainability, and increase productivity.”
Another way for producers, researchers and agricultural professionals to engage with research in Manitoba is through the Manitoba Diversification Centres. The province’s four centres conduct applied research and demonstrations on crops, technology and best management practices. The 2024 Annual Field Days are learning events taking place over the summer on:
-July 31 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Prairies East Sustainable Agriculture Initiative near Arborg;
-Aug. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Manitoba Crop Diversification Centre near Carberry; and
-Aug. 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Parkland Crop Diversification Foundation near Roblin.
The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year, $3.5-billion investment by Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation and resiliency of Canada’s agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5-billion commitment that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially-territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.
For more information on EMILI, visit EMILI – Accelerating Digital Agriculture (emilicanada.com) and for more information on Manitoba’s Diversification Centre tours, visit Manitoba Diversification Centres | Small plot applied agriculture production research (mbdiversificationcentres.ca)
